Food Grade Mylar Bags: FDA Compliance, Certifications & How to Verify Food Safety (2026)

Key Takeaways

• The FDA does not "approve" individual mylar bags — instead, it regulates the materials (Food Contact Substances) used to manufacture them, primarily under 21 CFR Parts 174–178.
• "Food grade" means the bag's materials meet FDA requirements for safe food contact at the intended use temperature, food type, and contact duration.
• Always request a Letter of Guarantee (LOG) or migration test report from your supplier — any reputable manufacturer will provide this documentation on request.
• BPA is NOT present in standard mylar (PET/PE) bags. BPA is associated with polycarbonate and epoxy resins, not polyester or polyethylene chemistry.
• PFAS ("forever chemicals") are an emerging concern — some flexible packaging uses PFAS-based grease barriers. Ask your supplier for PFAS-free certification if this matters to your market.

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The term "food grade" gets thrown around so casually in the packaging industry that it has almost lost meaning. Amazon listings, Alibaba suppliers, and even some established brands will stamp "food grade" on their mylar bags without providing any documentation, testing data, or regulatory reference to back up the claim.

If you are packaging food for commercial sale, storing food long-term for your family, or sourcing bags for a food brand, you need to understand what "food grade" actually means in a regulatory context — and how to verify it before you trust your product (or your health) to a supplier's marketing copy.

What Does "Food Grade" Actually Mean?

In the United States, food-grade packaging is regulated primarily by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The key regulatory framework is:

FDA 21 CFR Parts 174–178

These sections of the Code of Federal Regulations specify which materials, additives, coatings, adhesives, and components are safe for use in food-contact applications. The critical parts for mylar bags are:

Quotable definition: A food-grade mylar bag is a flexible pouch where every material layer — the BoPET film, aluminum coating, laminating adhesive, inner sealant, printing inks, and any coatings — individually complies with the applicable sections of FDA 21 CFR Parts 174–178 for the bag's intended use conditions (food type, temperature, and duration of contact).

Important Distinction: "Compliant" vs. "Approved"

The FDA does not test or "approve" individual finished packaging products. The responsibility falls on the manufacturer to ensure that all materials used in their packaging meet the applicable FDA regulations. When a mylar bag supplier says their bags are "FDA compliant," they are certifying that:

1. The raw materials meet 21 CFR requirements
2. The manufacturing process does not introduce contaminants
3. The finished bag is safe for food contact under specified conditions

This distinction matters because there is no FDA database where you can look up whether a specific bag model is "approved."

How to Verify Food-Safety Claims

1. Request a Letter of Guarantee (LOG)

A Letter of Guarantee (also called a Letter of Compliance or Continuing Guarantee) is a legal document from the manufacturer or supplier stating that their product complies with the applicable FDA regulations. It typically includes:

• Company name and address
• Product description (bag type, size, material structure)
• Specific FDA regulations complied with (e.g., "21 CFR 177.1630 for PET film, 21 CFR 177.1520 for PE sealant layer")
• Conditions of use (temperature range, food types)
• Signature of an authorized representative
• Date and duration of validity

Any reputable supplier will provide this on request. If a supplier refuses or claims they "don't have" compliance documentation, treat it as a major red flag.

2. Request Migration Testing Data

For commercial food packaging, particularly for products stored at elevated temperatures or containing acidic, fatty, or alcoholic foods, you may need migration test reports. These tests measure whether any substances from the packaging material transfer (migrate) into the food at unsafe levels.

Common migration tests:

Migration testing is usually performed by accredited third-party labs like SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas, or TÜV.

3. Verify Third-Party Certifications

Beyond basic FDA material compliance, these certifications indicate a higher level of quality control:

BPA, PFAS, and Chemical Safety

Is Mylar BPA-Free?

Yes. Standard mylar bags made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PE (polyethylene) do not contain BPA (Bisphenol A). BPA is a chemical building block used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins — completely different chemistry from the polyester and polyethylene used in mylar bags.

The confusion often arises because:

• Many consumers associate all plastics with BPA concerns
• Some packaging types (particularly metal can linings) use BPA-containing epoxy coatings
• Marketing materials sometimes highlight "BPA-Free" as a feature even when BPA was never present

Quotable fact: The PET polymer used in mylar bags is synthesized from ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid — a chemical pathway that does not involve BPA at any stage. The U.S. FDA has confirmed that PET does not contain BPA and is safe for food contact under normal conditions of use.

What About PFAS?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, sometimes called "forever chemicals") are a more legitimate concern in the packaging world. PFAS compounds have been used as grease-resistant coatings in some food packaging, particularly:

• Microwave popcorn bags
• Fast-food wrappers
• Pizza boxes
• Some moisture-barrier coatings

Standard mylar bags (PET/AL/PE structure) do not typically contain PFAS because their grease resistance comes from the inherent properties of the PET and PE layers, not from applied chemical coatings. However, some specialty mylar bags with added grease barriers or coatings could contain PFAS compounds.

To protect your brand:

• Request PFAS-free certification from your supplier
• Ask specifically whether any fluorinated compounds are used in any layer, ink, or coating
• Be aware that as of 2026, several states (including California, Maine, Minnesota, and Washington) have enacted laws restricting PFAS in food packaging

Heavy Metals and Printing Inks

Food-grade printing inks used on mylar bags must comply with FDA 21 CFR 178 and should be:

• Low-migration — designed not to transfer through the packaging into food
• Free of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium) above specified thresholds
• Printed on the exterior surface only — food-grade bags should never have ink in direct contact with the food

For custom-printed bags, verify that your supplier uses food-grade, low-migration inks and that printing is always on the outer layer of the laminate structure.

Food Grade Checklist: Before You Buy

Use this checklist when evaluating any mylar bag supplier for food packaging:

Documentation Required

• Letter of Guarantee (LOG) citing specific FDA 21 CFR sections
• Material specification sheet showing all layers, materials, and thicknesses
• Migration test reports (for commercial food products) from an accredited lab
• BPA-free statement (confirmation, not just marketing claim)
• PFAS-free certification (if required by your market or state regulations)
• Heavy metals compliance for printing inks (if custom printed)

Physical Inspection

• No chemical odor — open a bag from the case and smell the interior. Quality food-grade bags should have no noticeable odor.
• Clean interior — no debris, dust, or manufacturing residue inside the bag
• Uniform seal quality — factory-sealed edges should be consistent and gap-free
• Proper thickness — verify with a micrometer if possible (thickness should match the specification sheet)
• No delamination — layers should not separate when the bag is flexed or creased

Supplier Evaluation

• Supplier responds to documentation requests promptly and completely
• Manufacturing facility is inspected or certified (BRC, ISO, SQF, or equivalent)
• Supplier can provide references from other food-industry customers
• Clear traceability system (lot/batch tracking from raw material to finished product)
• Consistent quality across multiple orders (not just the first sample batch)

Common "Food Grade" Red Flags

Watch for these warning signs when evaluating suppliers:

Organic and Specialty Considerations

USDA Organic Packaging

If your product carries USDA Organic certification, your packaging must not contain substances that could contaminate the product and compromise its organic status. This means:

• No prohibited substances in any layer (check the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances)
• PFAS-free materials
• Verification that manufacturing aids and processing chemicals comply with organic handling requirements

Allergen Considerations for Shared Lines

If your mylar bags are manufactured on equipment that also produces bags for common allergen-containing products (nuts, dairy, soy, wheat), cross-contamination protocols should be in place. Request documentation of allergen management procedures, especially for bags intended for allergen-free food brands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does mylar leach chemicals into food?

Food-grade mylar (PET/PE) is one of the most chemically inert packaging materials available. Under normal conditions of use — room temperature storage of dry goods — there is no measurable migration of harmful substances from the bag into the food. Migration risk increases at higher temperatures and with fatty or acidic foods, which is why FDA compliance is specified for particular conditions of use. If you are storing dry staples (rice, beans, flour, pasta) at room temperature, food-grade mylar is considered exceptionally safe.

Is all mylar food safe?

No. Mylar (BoPET) is used across many industries — electronics, aerospace, industrial insulation — and these applications do not require food-grade materials, adhesives, or manufacturing conditions. Industrial-grade mylar may contain non-food-safe adhesives, coatings, or processing residues. Always purchase bags specifically manufactured and documented as food-grade for any food-contact application.

What is the difference between food-grade and food-safe mylar bags?

In practice, these terms are used interchangeably, but technically: "food-grade" typically refers to material compliance (the materials meet FDA 21 CFR requirements), while "food-safe" is a broader claim that the bag is safe for food contact under specific conditions. A bag can be made from food-grade materials but still not be food-safe if, for example, the manufacturing facility has contamination issues or the bag has been stored improperly before use.

Do food-grade mylar bags expire?

Mylar bags themselves do not have a meaningful expiration date when stored properly (cool, dry, away from UV light). The BoPET film and PE sealant layers are stable for decades. However, the laminating adhesive that bonds the layers together can theoretically degrade over very long periods (10+ years in extreme conditions). For practical purposes, unused food-grade mylar bags stored in a clean, dry environment have a usable life of 5–10+ years with no degradation in performance.

Are mylar bags from Amazon and Alibaba food-grade?

Some are, some are not — and it is difficult to verify without documentation. When purchasing from marketplace sellers, always request a Letter of Guarantee or compliance documentation before using the bags for food. Reputable sellers will provide this information. Avoid sellers who list bags as "food grade" in the product title but do not reference any specific regulatory standard or provide supporting documentation. For commercial food brands, sourcing directly from a verified packaging manufacturer is strongly recommended over marketplace purchases.

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Your food deserves packaging you can verify. Cubit Packaging provides full FDA compliance documentation — Letter of Guarantee, material specifications, and migration testing data — with every food-grade mylar bag order. Get verified food-grade packaging →

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